The Mercyhurst Lakers and New Haven Chargers will play in an early afternoon game in the Northeast Conference on Friday afternoon. This game is close to a pick ’em in the eyes of oddsmakers, as New Haven looks to get a fourth straight win and Mercyhurst seeks a second consecutive victory. I have taken a closer look at both of these teams below, and I’ve got my Mercyhurst vs New Haven prediction locked and loaded for you to tail or fade.
Our Mercyhurst vs New Haven Pick
Pick: New Haven Chargers Moneyline
Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Mercyhurst Lakers at New Haven Chargers
- Date and Time: Friday, January 23, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
- Venue: The Hazell Center, West Haven, Connecticut
- Broadcast: NEC Front Row
Key Storylines
Mercyhurst enters this contest coming off a convincing conference win over Central Connecticut in which the Lakers showed improved offensive flow and defensive discipline. Bernie Blunt III continues to anchor the offense, averaging more than 16 points per game while serving as the team’s primary shot creator. Jake Lemelman has complemented Blunt well, contributing consistent scoring and averaging a team-high 3.1 assists per game. Defensively, the Lakers have limited opponents to 66.1 points per game and their defense has been locked in for the most part during NEC play.
New Haven has gone 4-2 in conference play in its first season as a Division I program. The Chargers have built much of that success at home. The Chargers own a winning record at The Hazell Center, where they are 6-2, with one of those losses coming to Penn State from the Big Ten. Jabri Fitzpatrick leads the group in scoring at 11.8 points per game, while multiple rotation players contribute between 8 and 11 points per game. New Haven’s defensive numbers improve noticeably on its home floor, where the Chargers have done a better job contesting perimeter shots and forcing late-clock possessions.
Head-to-Head and Betting Trends
- This is the first meeting between New Haven and Mercyhurst, as both programs are still new to Division I basketball.
- New Haven is 9-7 against the spread so far this season.
- Mercyhurst is 11-6 against the spread going into Friday afternoon’s action.
- The under is 11-5 in games involving the Chargers this season.
- The under has gone 9-8 in Lakers games for the year.
Mercyhurst vs New Haven Model Projection
Score Projection: New Haven 72, Mercyhurst 69
Win Probability: New Haven 54%, Mercyhurst 46%
Final Thoughts
We’re in for a tight game here in the NEC and I lean toward New Haven to get the win on their home floor. The Chargers have won six straight games at home this year after dropping their first two home games as a Division I program. I’ll bank on them to continue their hot streak on their home floor here against a Mercyhurst team that is just 2-9 on the road for the year.
